He doubted himself. He doubted that he was Katrina’s daughter.

Maybe even at this moment, he might be doubting himself. What did they talk about? Did he not surrender to his mother?

And maybe he killed himself in his past life.

Nevertheless, when he appeared in front of her, their world finally became two people.

With a leisurely, not too fast pace, Heradin stopped in front of Blair.

Blair looked up at him with unbelieving eyes. Under the umbrella, his blue eyes were quietly staring at her.

After observing her for a while, he extended his hand.

“Come.”

Blair alternated between looking at his outstretched hand and him, then placed her hand on top of his hand.
Then, a large hand enveloped her hand, gently pulling her into the umbrella. At the same time, the umbrella tilted towards her.

Blair got into the carriage with him. Ruth moved to the carriage Blair had ridden. Soon, the carriage started moving.

Inside the carriage, only silence prevailed.

Blair glanced at Heradin from the corner of her eye. He only gazed at the raindrops streaming down the window, saying nothing.

“I naturally thought he would ask about the conversation with Mother.”

It would have been better if he had, answering casually. Blair found this silence uncomfortable, fearing that he might be harboring suspicions without expressing them.

Eventually, Blair broke the silence.

“Mother… It seems she has placed someone in the mansion. She is consulting with Lady Loreleine.”

Then, Heradin’s gaze, which had been directed outside, turned toward Blair. His face showed no sign of surprise; it seemed like he had already anticipated this.

“And…”

Before she could ask the unspoken question, Blair hesitated to speak further.

If she mentions that Katrina told her to stop finding memories, it could indicate that Katrina might be somehow involved in Esmeralda’s death. What kind of reaction would he show upon considering that possibility?

He likely already harbored suspicions about the Moth, but turning simple doubts into nearly certain suspicions was an entirely different matter.
Even so, Blair spoke.

“…And she told me to stop searching for memories.”

She had resolved to find the truth no matter what, and he was her partner in uncovering that truth.

“Of course, I will remember, regardless of Mother’s intentions—”

“I understand.”

A calm, low-pitched voice interrupted Blair’s words. His gaze, facing her, didn’t show suspicion or inquiry as it once did.

“You don’t need to explain any further.”

Blair looked at him with eyes that expressed her lack of understanding.

“Then why…”

It was an unfinished question, asking why he had come if not curious about that. Instead of an answer, Heradin, who had been silently observing Blair’s pale face, found a small raindrop clinging to her hair.

Seeing his hand approaching, Blair instinctively closed her eyes. He used his index finger to remove the raindrop hanging near her collarbone. His gaze, initially directed at the raindrop, returned to Blair, and their eyes met.

It was only then that Heradin responded in a dry voice.

“Just because it’s raining.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Did you summon me, Your Excellency?”

That night, Heradin called Kaligo to his study.

“Kaligo, track the movements of Empress Tae Hwang for a while.”

On the day of the incident.
Blair went to the empress’s palace without telling Katrina, but Katrina heard the news that Blair had gone to the empress’s palace from a maid planted in the princess’s palace. The maid also testified to that effect.

Katrina used this fact to deflect suspicions against herself.

If she really intended to kill Esmeralda, why would she engage in such an act on that day when she clearly knew her daughter was in the empress’s palace? She even went to the temple that night to save the injured Blair.

However, Heradin had never suspected Katrina of being the culprit. He believed the maid’s testimony was false, and he thought Blair was pretending to have lost her memory to conveniently cover up her mother’s crime.

But everyone overlooked another possibility that defied common sense.

‘The possibility that the woman used her daughter’s life.’

Blair might have thought the same.

She probably never considered the idea that her mother used her life.

‘No, she probably didn’t want to think about it.’

If that were the truth, she couldn’t bring herself to accept it.

After considering this possibility, she hesitated. Hesitated to make her regain her memories.

Still, she had no intention of stopping here.

No matter what the truth was, she had to find out. Why her aunt had to die. Why Delmark had to bear such a false accusation.
In the process, even if Blair gets hurt, it is a truth that must be accepted.

‘I can’t rely solely on her memories, regardless of which side.’

Having come to that conclusion, Heradin spoke.

“I’ve thoroughly examined that woman’s state of mind. If she is the culprit, we’ll reexamine it. Just to make sure I haven’t overlooked anything, for reassurance.”

“…….”

“Keep an eye on all the witnesses involved at that time. If you find anything suspicious, report it.”

Kalligo’s eyes, under Heradin’s command, sharpened unlike usual.

He lowered his head with a serious expression.

“I accept the order.”